Rotary cutter



Aug. 5. c. NELSON 2,447,H

ROTARY CUTTER Filed June 9, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l ZN VEN TOR Aug. 24, 1948. NELSON 2,447,617

I ROTARY CUTTER Filed June 9, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY @a/wfd. m

Patented Aug. 24, 1948 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY CUTTER Seddon 0. Nelson, Front Royal, Va., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application June 9, 1945, Serial No. 598,545

3 Claims. 1 v

This invention concerns improvements in a cutter for filamentary material of the type shown in Beria Patent 1,723,998.

It is the chief object of the present invention to provide a rotary cutter of the type mentioned above with a rotary knife which is arranged to effect cutting by engagement with the disc periphery whereby such periphery serves as a cooperating shear member with the knife.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for reconditioning the knife during operation thereof. This reconditioning may involve the sharpening thereof, r it may involve the dulling of the knife to produce fibers of improved oarding qualities as disclosed in the copending application of Welton, Serial N 0. 454,963, filed August 15, 1942, now Patent 2,411,644, November 26, 1946. A further object is to provide for the removal of any particles formed by the abrasive action of the reconditioning device. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and the description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

' Figure 2 is an elevation of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates the operation of the embod ment of Figures 1 and 2 for dulling the knife; I

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing a modification;

Figure 5 is an end elevation showing the relation of the conditioning device of Figure 4 to the knife;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modification;

Figure 7 is an elevation of the embodiment of Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is a section of the vaned rotary cutter of Figures 6 and 7.

As shown generally in Figures 1 to 3, a cutter disc 2 is mounted for rotation within suitable bearings in a standard 3 and a platform 4, a pulley 5 being provided for receiving the driving motion through a belt. The disc is provided with an axial opening 6 into which the filamentary material in the form of a continuous yarn or tow may enter. The axial passage 6 is connected with the radial passage 1, which is adapted to discharge the filamentary material throughthe opening 8 in the periphery of the disc. A rotary cutter knife 9 is carried on a suitable standard or equivalent support II], the knife being rotatably mounted upon the shaft ll carried in the supporting structure comprising the bracket l2 and anarm [3 of cylindrical construction arranged to extend into a bore within the bracket in which it may be adjustably set by means of set screw it. In general, the axis of rotation of the knife 9 is so disposed as to extend transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of the disc, and so that the knife is in contact therewith throughout its rotation. The standard In likewise fits into a cylindrical bore within the bracket I2, so that it may be adjustably set by means of the screw l5 atany height and at any angular relationship with respect to the disc 2. The two set screws M and I5 thus provide for a universal adjustment. The rotary knife 9 preferably has a sloped or beveled back-facing 9a which may bear against the periphery of the disc 2 and assures rigidity of the knife during its cutting action which is effected by the leading edge 9b. The bracket l2 carries projections H5 in which an arm or lever I1 is pivotally mounted. The arm I! carries a hone l8 or equivalent conditioning device such as an abrasive stone, and carries also a wiper such as a felt pad I9 positioned in advance of the hone and adapted to wipe off any abrasive particles loosened by means of the conditioning device I8 before the knife again comes into contact with the disc 2. A downwardly projecting member 20 is arranged to press the wiper against the backing face So, whereas the direct pressure of the extension Ila of the arm ll serves to press the wiper into contact with the cutting edge. A counterweight 21 is adjustably secured upon a threaded end of the arm I! so that the pressure of the conditioning device l8 against the knife 9 may be varied.

The axis of rotation of the knife 9 is offset laterally in a vertical direction from the area of contact of the periphery of disc 2 with the knife 9, so that the rotation of the disc 2 causes a simultaneous rotation of the knife 9. The amount of such lateral displacement may be varied at will merely by adjusting set screw l5. If desired, the axis of shaft It may be displaced below instead of above the periphery 2, as shown in Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a modification in which two conditioning devices are arranged so that the first one I8a is arranged to sharpen the cutting edge 91) (see Figure 5) whereas the second conditioning device I8b is arranged to dress the back face 9a of the knife. This arrangement may be used to effect sharpening of the knife, whereas the arrangement of Figures 1 to 3 is better adapted to the dulling of the blade.

Figures 6 to 8 show a modification in which the face of the blade 9 remote from the disk 2 is provided with a plurality of vanes 25. These vanes are inclined outwardly in the direction of rotation as shown in Figure 7 so that as the staple fibers are cut, the clumps thereof strike the vanes and are deflected downwardly, the impact serving to rotate the cutter blade. In this modification, the cutter mounting is changed in the following respects: The bracket i2 is freely rotatable on the standard l above a collar 20 fixed thereon. A weighted lever 21 having a cam surface 28 is mounted pivotally at 29 on a bracket 30 so that the cam surface bears against the bracket l2, thereby pressing the blade against the disk 2. In this embodiment, the axis of rotation of the cutter blade 9 may be substantially coincident with the plane of rotation of the axis of the radial bore 1, thereby causing the blade 9 to derive its entire component of rotary motion from the impacts of the fiber clumps. Alternatively, the axis of rotation of the blade may be offset from the plane of rotation of the axis of the radial bore of the disk to combine the impact with the offset relationship to impart rotation to the blade.

The cutter of the present invention requires less frequent dismantling for reconditioning of the knife. As compared to the type of Beria cutter heretofore used in which a stationary knife is employed, the rotating blade of the present invention has a greater surface over which wear is uniformly distributed during operation. In addition, the conditioning means further increases the life of the blade.

The cutting device of the present invention may be operated in such a manner that centrifugal force itself serves to draw. the filaments through the passages 6 and 8; Alternatively, a lower speed may be used and a fluid jet, such as of air, or water, or other liquid, may be introduced into the axial passage 6 in order to forward the filamentary material. Whether or not reliance is placed solely upon centrifugal force, a liquid may be introduced with the filamentary material or upon the wiping pad to provide a lubricating efiect. If desired, centrifugal force may be supplemented by a fluid jet and if desired, the fluid may be a liquid to provide a lubricating function in addition.

It is to be understood that the description is illustrative only, and that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for cutting continuous filamentary material into discontinuous lengths comprising a rotatable disc having a radial passage for receiving the material and for discharging it radially outwardly from the disc, a rotatable cutting blade arranged to engage the disc periphery to co-operate therewith in effecting cutting of the material, the axis of rotation of the blade being disposed generally transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of the disc, and means interconnecting the blade with the disc for rotating the blade during rotation of the disc, said means being the sole means for rotating the blade. I

2. Apparatus for cutting continuous filamentary material into discontinuous lengths comprising a rotatable disc having a radial passage for receiving the material and for discharging it radially outwardly from the disc, a rotatable cutting blade arranged to engage the disc periphery to co-operate therewith in effecting cutting of the material, the axis of rotation of the blade being disposed generally transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of the disc, and means comprising vanes on the blade for rotating the blade during rotation of the disc.

3. Apparatus for cutting continuous filamentary material into discontinuous lengths comprising a rotatable disc having a radial passage for receiving the material and for discharging it radially outwardly from the disc, a rotatable cutting blade to engage the disc periphery to cooperate therewith in effecting cutting of the material, the axis of rotation of the blade being disposed generally transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of the disc, the axis of rota.- tion of the blade being offset laterally from a central radial plane of the rotatable disc, the rotation of the blade being the result solely of the ofiset relationship between the interengaging blade and disc.

SEDDON C. NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 572,374 Richards Dec. 1, 1896 1,167,999 Hendee Jan. 11, 1916 2,207,433 Haswell July 9, 1940 2,226,130 Kinsella Dec. 24, 1940 2,279,718 O'Malley Apr. 14, 1942 

